BylawArticle8

ARTICLE VIII: TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
THE FOLLOWING RULES SHALL APPLY TO THE REGULAR CHAPTER SPONSORED TOURNAMENTS AS SCHEDULED. THESE RULES APPLY TO ALL MEMBERS, MEMBERS WITH GUESTS, AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS.

SECTION 1: TOURNAMENT FEES
1. The total payback of entry fees, less operation charge, shall be 100%. A $5.00 operation charge is taxed on each person entered into each tournament; this money is placed into the chapter’s operation fund and is non-refundable. This $5.00 tax is not considered part of the entry fee for payback to contestants.
2. The basic payback shall be made to the eligible anglers in the order of their respective finishing places.
     a. One (1) place shall be paid for every five (5) anglers who participate up to a maximum of five (5) paid            places.
     b. Pay out is based on individual weight.
3. The LUNKER payback shall be 100% to the eligible participant
4. Total tournament fee due prior to any regular Chapter tournament is as follow;
     a. One (1) contestant – fee is $20.00
          i) $5.00 operation charge
          ii) $12.00 for participation
          iii) $3.00 for Lunker pot.
     b. One (1) contestant not fishing, but wants to acquire tournament points – Fee is $8.00
           i) $5.00 operation charge
           ii) $3.00 for Lunker pot.

SECTION 2: TOURNAMENT RULES
1. Respective state regulations pertaining to sport fishing that may not be covered in these tournament rules shall apply also.
2. Each participant shall have the respective state fishing license or permit where this tournament is held where applicable
3. There are no off limits for Regular Chapter tournaments before the commencement of said tournaments.
4. The only persons eligible to fish the regular Chapter tournaments shall be Members and the members with approved guests in accordance with ARTICLE VI.
5. Each Bass submitted at the weigh-in site that does not meet the minimum legal length shall be assessed a penalty at the rate of one pound for each illegal fish submitted and loss of that fish. The total assessment of all illegal fish submitted shall be deducted from the total individual weight of legal fish.
6. A late Penalty for any late participant(s) shall be assessed at the rate of ONE POUND per minute for the first 15 minutes after which the late participant(s) shall be disqualified from the tournament with automatic loss of entry fees. The late penalty shall be deducted in addition to deductions for illegal Bass, and shall be deducted from the LUNKER weight if the participant is entered for LUNKER only.
7. All legal bass submitted for weigh in should be alive and in good condition. In the event that a dead fish is presented for weigh in, that dead fish shall be assessed a penalty of Ľ pound. Movement in the check basket prior to being weighed will determine a fish being alive.
8. Any member, or members with approved guests that arrive late to fish a tournament, shall locate another member and pay respective tournament fees. They shall have their live well inspected by the party collecting fees, and be advised of any changes in the rules and/or schedule.
9. All eligible/legal Bass shall be caught on the designated Tournament Lake during the designated tournament hours.
10. Only ARTIFICIAL LURES may be used. The possession of or the usage of LIVE BAIT is illegal and strictly prohibited.
11. Trolling is illegal and strictly prohibited.
12. Participants shall stay in their respective boats while in the ACT of FISHING.
13. Rods, Cane Poles, fiberglass poles, jig poles or Flipping Sticks (with or without reels attached) over eight (8) feet in length are illegal for these tournaments and are strictly prohibited. Only one rod may be used at a time to take fish during the tournament.
14. Fly rods less than nine (9) feet in length with either automatic or single action fly reels attached (using those lures designed to be cast effectively with a fly rod) may be used.
15. The possession of or the usage of Trammel nets, seines, and other nets used primarily for commercial fishing purposes are illegal and strictly prohibited.
16. Participants are to keep a 50 yard daytime courtesy distance from other boats whose occupants are in the act of fishing, and also the same distance at night when possible.
17. Other rules may also apply to this tournament in special situations, if applicable. See the Tournament Director for details or clarification of any of these tournament rules.